Gene Austin Hannah

Gene Austin Hannah, 84, passed away on Thursday, February 26.He graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1948, Howard College in Birmingham in 1952 where he used a nasty curveball and a humiliating knuckleball to pitch for the varsity baseball team, and Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY in 1956. He pastored churches in Kentucky while in the seminary. He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Leeds, AL and worked on the church staffs of Bellevue Baptist Church in Gadsden and Normandale Baptist Church in Montgomery. From 1971 until his retirement in1995, he worked in community relations and medical staff recruitment for Baptist Medical Center in Montgomery.

Gene enjoyed flying radio controlled airplanes. He helped form theRadio Aero Modelers of Montgomery, serving as an instructor for anyone learning to fly. He was most at home standing on an airfield making his plane write in the sky.

He loved his savior Jesus Christ and His Church. After retirement, he continued to counsel church leaders across the state and fill pulpits as an interim pastor. He spent decades teaching Sunday School to packed classrooms.

He adored his family. He made his wife, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren each feel special. He continues to live through their lives. Mary Ann was his best friend with whom he shared the mountains, the beach, and all the trials and joys of life.

Gene saw each of his sons as unique, encouraging each to develop the gifts God has given him. He taught them to love music in the way that he sang throughout each day, to have honor and responsibility by never allowing them to back out of a commitment, to laugh at corny jokes and life’s absurdities, to be compassionate in the way he cared for people as individuals, to be patient in the way he built his airplanes and fished for bass, to sit in quiet awe at the beauty and power of nature, to face fear with belief in themselves and with the courage of faith, to care for each other by kissing their cheeks and warning them of slick roads, and to treasure their wives in the way that he loved their mother. They in turn have tried to pass these qualities to their children, nieces, and nephews.

He reveled in his grandchildren, delighting in their joys and holdingthem in their sorrows. He told them stories and counseled them. He was their model for wisdom, fun, and kindness.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Ann and his sons, Charles (Barbara), Scott (Janie), Bill (Jennie), and Buddy (Cindy). His grandchildren include Allison (Frank) Price, Wilson, Wells, andWalker Hannah, Spencer (Ben) Kendrick, Austin, Grayson, andBobby Hannah, and great grandson Beckmann Austin Price.

Pall Bearers will be his grandsons and grandsons-in-law. Honorary Pall Bearers are the Poundstone Class, Lloyd Williams, James Greene, and Bob Moffett. Visitation will be Monday, March 2 at 1:00 p.m. in the Parlor of First Baptist Church followed by a Memorial Service in Stakely Sanctuary at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to The Respite Ministry FUMC, 2416 W. Cloverdale Park, Montgomery, AL 36106; or to The Caring Center, First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry Street, Montgomery, AL 36104. Leak Memory Chapel of Montgomery will be directing services. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.leak-mc.com

Arrangements under the direction of Leak Memory Chapel, Montgomery, AL.